Smith made the announcement Wednesday at a news conference with Cardinals head
coach Rick Pitino at his side.

"It's really nice I have that (decision) off my back and I'll be ready for
next year," said Smith on Wednesday. "If I would have left, I would have been
shooting myself in the foot."

Smith led the NCAA Tournament champions with an average of 18.7 points in 40
games. He also grabbed 3.3 rebounds and dished out 2.9 assists while shooting
32.8 percent from beyond the arc.

"I love to win, and with the group we have coming back, I want to go out a
winner and I want to get my degree," Smith added. "The pros of staying were so
much better than the pros of leaving. All the pros I put down of leaving were
very immature. This season, I have some new goals and some new challenges."

Smith scored only nine points and made just 3-of-16 shots in the national
championship game against Michigan, as Louisville won its third title and
first since 1986.